Summary
One Phase 4 series becomes very important toCaptain America: Brave New Worldin a far-reachingMCUtheory that could hint at huge storylines for the franchise’s future. WhileCaptain America: Brave New World, releasing in February 2025, will put Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson front-and-center as the new Star-Spangled Man-with-a-Plan, the movie is also set to expand the universe of another iconic Avenger: Bruce Banner’s Hulk.Captain America: Brave New World’scastfeatures several returning characters fromThe Incredible Hulk, teasing that the gamma-irradiated hero could have a part to play.
Samuel Sterns, Betty Ross, andThaddeus Ross, now played by Harrison Ford, will all be making their returns inCaptain America: Brave New World.Tim Blake Nelson’s return as Sterns, who is now operating as the superpowered Leader, is very intriguing, especially since he hasn’t been seen since 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk. However, the Leader won’t be the only villain inCaptain America: Brave New World, and a new theory posed byReddituser Sarang_616explains how the Leader can be important to the emergence of new enemies in the MCU’s Phase 5.
Theory: Captain America 4’s Leader Is Running The MCU’s Intelligencia
The Leader Is A Member Of Intelligencia In Marvel Comics
Intelligencia was first seen in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and was introduced as an online community of embittered individuals, mainly men, who resented the emergence of so many new female superheroes, specifically Jennifer Walters' She-Hulk.She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawrevealed thatJon Bass' Todd Phelps, a.k.a. HulkKing, had founded the site as a place for himself and like-minded people to vent their frustrations. However,this newReddittheory suggests that Samuel Sterns' Leader is the true creator of the MCU’s Intelligencia.
In Marvel Comics, the Intelligencia is a group comprising the most intelligent villains in the Marvel Universe, of which the Leader is a prominent member. Changing theIntelligencia made sense forShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, particularly since the series wasn’t shy about exploring feminist themes and detailing the world’s attitude toward powerful women. However,Captain America: Brave New Worldcould better cement the Intelligencia as a real threat in the MCU by revealing the Leader to be the man-behind-the-curtain, bringing the group closer to its Marvel Comics counterpart.
Notable Intelligencia members in Marvel Comics have included the Leader, MODOK, Mad Thinker, Wizard, and Klaw, who debuted inAvengers: Age of Ultronas Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis.
She-Hulk’s Blood Storyline Makes More Sense If The Leader Is Behind The Intelligencia
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Made A Joke About Its Unoriginal Blood-Focused Storyline
ThroughoutShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law,the Intelligencia presented problems for Jennifer Walters, as several agents of the group attempted to get close to Jen in an effort to acquire some of her gamma-irradiated bloodto transform Phelps into HulkKing. This unoriginal storyline was joked about by Tatiana Maslany’s fourth wall-breaking hero inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law’sbrilliant finale, and was even revised during her conversation with KEVIN, but this storyline makes much more sense if the Leader is behind the Intelligencia’s actions. Most notably, the Leader also had an obsession with Bruce Banner’s blood.
Back inThe Incredible Hulk,Samuel Sterns, under the pseudonym Mr. Blue, was helping Bruce Banner try and find a cure for the gamma radiation in his blood. This involved replicating and concentrating gallons of Banner’s blood, which allowed him to enhance Emil Blonsky into the Abomination, and led to his own transformation.Sterns' obsession with the Hulk’s blood means he would likely be fascinated with She-Hulk’s, given the fact that she had more immediate control over her abilities, soShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law’sannoying blood-focused storyline actually has meaning, according to this theory.
She-Hulk Villains Paid Off An Age Of Ultron Easter Egg 7 Years Later
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law introduced a new villain group to the MCU, but the Intelligencia has actually been causing trouble since the MCU’s Phase 2.
Captain America 4 Is The Best Place To Continue She-Hulk’s Themes With No Sign Of Season 2
She-Hulk’s Story Can Continue In The Same Way As Bruce Banner’s Hulk In The MCU
She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawintroduced some incredibly important narrative elements to the MCU, and ended with several unanswered questions and burning mysteries. However, the prospect ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawseason 2seems very unlikely, meaning Marvel Studios is running the risk of never addressing these loose ends. Even so,just as Bruce Banner’s MCU story has been explored without any sequels to his one solo movie, Jennifer Walters' story can do the same, and the Leader’s return inCaptain America: Brave New Worldcreates the perfect opportunity for this to happen.
Connecting the Leader to the Intelligencia is a very likely possibility.
At first glance, connectingSam Wilson’s Captain America and the MCU’s Hulk-related charactersis an unusual choice. However, sinceso much of the Hulk’s backstory is connected to the more grounded and political sides of the MCU, particularly through his relationship with Thaddeus Ross, this is actually a great fit. By developing Hulk-centric storylines in the MCU,Captain America: Brave New Worldcan also continueShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law’sthemes, which means connecting the Leader to the Intelligencia is a very likely possibility.
Intelligencia In Captain America 4 Explains President Ross’ Red Hulk Transformation
Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross Will Become The Red Hulk In Captain America: Brave New World
Of course, making the Leader the founder of the MCU’s Intelligencia still doesn’t exactly explain why he’s being included inCaptain America: Brave New World, as neither he nor the Intelligencia have anything to do with Sam Wilson’s Captain America. However,Samuel Sterns' return inBrave New Worldcan be explained by the return of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who will now be operating as the President of the United States.Captain America: Brave New World’sfirst teaser trailerhas revealed that Ross will become the Red Hulk, and theories suggest the Leader is behind this transformation.
Samuel Sterns has had an obsession with the Hulk sinceThe Incredible Hulk, so it makes sense that this would continue in the MCU’s Phase 5.He may have seen the emergence of new Hulks over the years, including the Abomination, She-Hulk, HulkKing, and Skaar, and may want to create his own Hulk-like villain. In Marvel Comics,Thaddeus Ross is transformed into the Red Hulkby the Intelligencia, so it’s very possible that the same will happen inCaptain America: Brave New World, explaining the Leader’s return, and further strengthening his involvement with group.
Captain America 4 Could Be The Next Step In The MCU’s World War Hulk Set-Up
Marvel Studios Hasn’t Yet Confirmed A World War Hulk Adaptation For The MCU
Ever since Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk found himself on Sakaar in 2017’sThor: Ragnarok, there has been speculation that Marvel Studios may be setting up a possible adaptation of Marvel Comics’World War Hulkevent. This was perhaps the biggest storyline featuring the Hulk in Marvel Comics, ashe returned to Earth from Sakaar after his wife’s death to kill the members of the Illuminati who exiled him there. Several story elements ofWorld War Hulkhave been teased in the MCU, but there are still issues with the Hulk’s film rights, perhaps making this difficult.
Captain America: Brave New Worldcould bring the MCU one step closer toWorld War Hulk.
Little is known about theHulk’s time on Sakaar, butShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawrevealed that he had a son there, Skaar. Skaar first appeared in Marvel Comics’World War Hulkevent. Additionally,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessintroduced an alternate version of the Illuminati, while characters such as She-Hulk and the Red Hulk also play a prominent role in the comic storyline. By introducing the Red Hulk, and developing the Hulk’s own journey,Captain America: Brave New Worldcould bring the MCU one step closer toWorld War Hulk.
Captain America: Brave New World
Cast
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titledNew World Order)marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
